
I seem to have fallen by the internet wayside for the most part, in much of the rest of my life, too. Nothing interesting to say. Overdone and pollen filled brain. The urge and energy to stitch has come back this week, hopefully the rest will soon follow.
In the meantime...
Here's a silly story, one I've used in schools for decades. A true tale from my childhood, possibly with a little extra drama thrown in. It's good for corralling quiet, or for filling in the gaps as needed...
The Disneyland Story
My family didn't have a lot of money, so for vacations we would go camping. But one year, my parents said we were going to Disneyland! We were so excited! My mom told us that it was going to be very expensive, but that they were going to buy each of us an all day pass. The pass would have a string on it, and it was up to us to tie it to our belt loop or button holes, and to take care of it all day long. She told us, "If you lose it, that's it. We're not going to buy you another one. You'll have to sit on a bench and watch us, and not have any more fun."
"We'll be careful, Mom!" we promised.
We planned and packed up the camper. (Yes, we were still going to be camping, but this time it would be next to a pool and Disneyland, instead of the usual river and outhouse! ) As we got ready, Mom kept asking if we had clothes with places to tie the ticket string, "Because you know, we won't buy you another one, you'll just be on a bench...."
"Yes, Mom!"
The story goes along, alternating between excitement for the trip and growing exasperation at my mom's constant ticket warnings. The children usually start yelling "Yes, Mom!" along with me...
Standing in line to buy the tickets, and Mom started in... "Yes, Mom!"
Riding the Monorail into the park, and Mom checking where we tied them with a warning... "Yes, Mom!"
My brother and I heading off on our own to the big rides, and Mom calling out, "Remember...." "YES, Mom!"
We had a wonderful time, riding Space Mountain, the Matterhorn and more. We met up with the rest of the family for lunch, and Mom said, "Did you have fun? Do you still have your tickets?"
"YES, MOM!"
After lunch we went to the Wild Mr. Toad ride. Each of us showed the attendant our ticket, and we all rode it together. Next we headed for the Snow White ride, again, we stood in line, each of us showing our ticket...
BUT . . . Someone in my family had lost their ticket!
(At this point the kids gasp, and begin shouting out who they think it was...)
"YOU!" It wasn't me. "Your brother!" It wasn't my brother. "Your sisters?" And as I shake my head "no" it begins to dawn on them, that the answer to the mystery is a perfect childhood moment...

"It was My Mom!" (Screams of glee!)
And we said to her, "We are not buying you another one, you will have to sit on a bench and have no more fun!" And do you know what she said? Absolutely nothing. She turned bright red and didn't say a word. We traced our steps back to the Mr. Toad ride, and lucky for her, we found her ticket on the ground next to the attendant. She tied it on and never said another word about tickets to us again!
The End